The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked to assess the intake of iron, which can cause damage, particularly to the liver, when consumed in excess. Iron in fortified food and food supplements may also cause unwanted effects in the gastrointestinal tract.
The available data, however, were inadequate to define a safe level of the adverse effects of iron intake. It was therefore not possible to set a tolerable upper intake level. Instead, EFSA has set safe levels that are more conservative because it is not possible to identify exact levels at which the risk of adverse effects occurs.
The new safe levels cover all sources of iron, including intake from fortified food products and food supplements:
- 40 mg/day for adults, including pregnant and lactating women
- 35 mg/day for adolescents (15-17 years)
- 10 mg/day for young children (1-3 years)
- 5 mg/day for infants (4-11 months), including iron from fortified food and food supplements but excluding iron in infant formula
See the established safe levels for all age groups in EFSA's Scientific Opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level for Iron
The above safe levels do not apply to individuals taking iron prescribed under medical supervision.
For questions about iron and safe intake, please contact:
Helle Buchardt Boyd
hbb@dhigroup.com
Tel +45 4516 9097
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